Home gyms, low-fat foods and weight loss programmes

The study asked respondents whether they were using a series of measures to either reduce or maintain their weight. Despite the growing girth of many nations, the most popular choice was using none of these measures at all at 40%.

However, a third of all people employ low-fat food products in their weight management regime and 22% use home exercise equipment. Tackling exercise at home was most prevalent in the United States and the United Arab Emirates (one third of all people say they use home equipment), Canada (31%) and the United Kingdom (30%).

George Griffin, Synovate's Vice President, Multi Client Group, in the United States, said: "Americans are getting bigger and the message is getting through that we need to tackle it. Many are trying to do this in the comfort of their own homes with exercise equipment.

"This is a phenomenon we also see in our monthly DuraTrend data, which tracks new purchases of electronics. Sales of bathroom scales that are able to measure body fat have doubled since 2003," he said.

People from the Middle East seem to throw everything at weight problems. Saudi Arabians and those from the UAE were among the top users for low-fat food products, herbs and supplements, meal replacements, weight loss courses, low-carbohydrate foods, diet plans, diet books, gym memberships, as well as home exercise equipment.

Andreas Zachariou, Managing Director of Synovate in the UAE and Acting Managing Director of Saudi Arabia, said this was not surprising with more than half the population now classified as overweight or obese.

"While these efforts may not be too focused, the good news is that people are putting some effort into reducing their weight. Health issues are creeping into the consumer consciousness - however, these measures may be more about looking good than improving health."

Weight loss courses and memberships like WeightWatchers™, Jenny Craig™ and their ilk are most popular in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia (10% of respondents are using or have used them) and Australia at 9%.

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> Off-the-scale behaviour

> Food as fuel or pleasure?

> The number one fast food nation

> Obesity: A weighty issue

> Losing it